Check-holder.



E. E. KAECH.

CHECK HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED 221341, 1911.

$HEETS-SHEET 1.

- diva/ 455 WITNESSES i H ATTORNEY WASHINGTON n c Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

E. ILKAECH.

CHECK HOLDER.

APPLICATION rum) PBB.11, 1911.

1 ,O22,682. Patented Apr. 9, 19 12.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

EDWARDEDDY KAECH, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CHECK-HOLDER.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Serial No. 608,149.

1,022,682. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 11, 1911.

off the desired portion of the strip for presentation to the customer, and upon release of the entire device without further manipulation the impetus of the fall of the device, it being usuallyhung from the belt of the operator, will cause the indrawing of the pad ready for another projection, but on the next projection of the pad into operative position, the stub end of the strip last partially removed will be diverted with those previously removed out of interference with the fresh strip presented. Since it is sometimes necessary to use a pencil or other marking implement, the means for attaching the device to the belt of the operator may be provided with a pencil holder.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that while the drawings show an operative device adapted to a certain variety of debit checks, the invention is not necessarily limited to the structure shown nor to the particular type of debit checks illustrated, but may by suit-able modification be adapted to other types of debit checks, while still retaining all the salient features of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the check holder with the pad of checks in a partially projected position. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the check holder with the pad of checks shown partially in elevation and partially in section. Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. 2 with the pad of checks shown in elevation and with the device in the pendent position and the check pad indrawn, the parts being in the normal position assumed when the structure is hanging from the belt of the operator. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the follower used in connection with the pad holder. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the stabbing end of a connecting bar introducible into the stub end of the pad of checks. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a clip which may be used which is adapted to be secured to the belt of the operator.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a casing 1,Which, in the particular construc- To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD E. KAnoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Check-Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in check holders, especially the checks or debit slips issued by waiters or others to customers, and its object is to provide a means whereby a pad of checks may be readily held for operation, so that a waiter or other person issuing a check for a purchase may tear off from the pad a suitable length of strip to indicate the amount due and when the device is released it will by its ownweight cause an indrawing of the pad, extended for the tearing off of the desired length, into the holder, so that the entire pad is protected against injury or soiling and may always present a neat appearance.

While the invent-ion is not confined to any particular check system, it is especially adapted to the system where the pad is made up of a pile of elongated strips fastened together at one end and free at the other, each strip containing a column or columns of figures indicating successive amounts, and when a portion of the strip is removed this is so done that the lowest amount indicated on the strip handed to the customer is the amount due, while the remainder of the strip, whether long or short, is not detached from the pad, but remains attached thereto until the entire pad has been used.

The present invention provides a holder for such a pad of strips, which holder will to a great extent house such strips, whether the pad be complete or whether a small number or a greater number of the strips have had portions removed therefrom. In order to gain access to the strips, the entire pad is moved in a direction to project the unused strips, while the stub portions of the used strips are moved with the pad, but are diverted into non-interfering relation to the unused strips, whereby the visible one of the latter may be projected to the desired extent with relation to a tearing oft edge, so that the operator may readily tear tion illustrated, is provided with a back plate 2 of a length somewhat longer than a pad 3 of the checks or check slips to be used, these slips being mounted upon a backing card 4: to which they are all. united at one end and to each other by a staple 5. The pad of check strips is usually long with respect to the width and thickness and the checks may contain a longitudinally arranged column 6 of figures designating successive amounts, preferably decreasing toward the stapled end of the pad, these amounts being designed to represent the value of purchases, whether of food or other materials, but for convenience of description it will be assumed that the pads are designed for use in eating places and that the amounts represent the cost of meals.

The casing 1 is elongated like the pad and is somewhat longer than such pad and centrally through the back 2 there is an elongated slot 7 for a purpose which will presently appear, while at one end the casing is open where usually the back is formed with a recess 8, while at the other end there is a closure 9 provided with a passage 10 therethrough at about the middle thereof.

The long sides of the casing are provided with side members 11, and these side members l1 carry for a portion of their length lips or flanges 12 inturned one toward the other in substantially parallel relation with the back 2 in spaced relation to said back, and with their adjacent edges separated. The ends of the flanges 12 are slightly outturned, as indicated at 13, for a purpose which will presently appear.

Near the end of the casing provided with the recess 8 the side members 11 are extended away from the back 2, as indicated at 14, and the outer ends of these extensions 14 are joined by a bridge piece 15 having along one edge a lip 16 directed toward the back 2, this lip being on that edge of the bridge piece 11 toward the end 9 of the casing. The side members 11 at the extensions 14 are pierced by slots 7 which extend from a point substantially coincident with the inner face of the back member 2 to a point near the bridge piece 15, there being two such slots 17 on each side of the casing, these slots being long with reference to their width. The slots are designed to receive lugs or projections 18 on the opposite edges of a follower plate 19 best shown in Fig. 4, the lugs 18 being spaced apart on the corresponding edges of the plate 19 a distance to permit these lugs to enter the slots 17, so that the plate will be guided by these slots in movements toward and from the inner face of the back plate 2. At one side of the plate 19 between those ends carrying the lugs 18 there is formed a lip 20 with the junction between the lip and the l plate formed into an elongated, comparatively sharp edge 21 beveled back on to the lip from the edge, which latter is in the plane of the face of the plate 19.1emote from the lip 20 and from the beveled portion of the edge 21 the lip 20 curves away from the corresponding face of the plate 19 in overhanging relation thereto. Interposed between the face of the follower plate 19 into overhanging relation to which the lip 20 is arranged, and the inner face of the bridge piece 15 there is a spring 22 tend ing to move the follower toward the back 2, but readily yieldable to a superior force this spring being usually secured at one end to the follower 19 and at the other end held in position with relation to the bridge piece 15 by a spring holder or guide pin 23 projectingfrom the bridge piece.

lVhen the pad of checks 3 is within the casing 1 the uppermost pad is engaged by the face of the follower plate 19directed toward the back 2 and the relation of the parts is such that when the stapled end of the bar is against the end 9 of the casing the other end of the pad is between the follower plate 19 and the back 2, the end 9 of the casing limiting the movement of the pad in that direction.

By grasping the casing in one hand, say by the back 2, and one of the flanges 12, the pad may be projected by being grasped by the thumb and fingers of the other hand, the thumb resting upon the pad between the flanges 12 and one or more of the fingers of the hand engaging the back member 4 of the pad through the longitudinal slot 7 in the back 2. The pad may be readily propelled toward the end of the casing containing the recess 8 and when sufliciently moved the pad may be grasped by the hand of the waiter at the then projecting end and drawn as far as may be necessary to expose the number desired of the column of numbers at that edge of the follower plate 19 remote from the edge 21. This edge may be shaped to act as a tearing edge and the visible slip or check may be torn at the follower, the tearing action being indicated in Fig. 1, care being taken that the portion torn off shall exhibit in the lowest amount indicated thereon the amount to be paid by the customer. If, now, the pad be moved toward the end 9 until in engagement therewith, the remaining stub from which the customers end of the check has been torn will pass from under the follower 19 to that side of the edge 21 toward the end 9 of the casing, but the stub end of the check is also carried under the flanges 12, so that it is held by these flanges into close relation with the remainder of the pad, the rounded edges 13 preventing interference of the flanges 12 with the shortened stub portion of the check. If, now, the pad be again urojected, the stub end of the check from which the customers end has been torn will catch on the sharpened edge 21 and be diverted by the beveled portion of this edge and by the curved lip 20 outward from the body of the pad, thus bringing the next unused check in order in to visible and tearing relation with the tearing; edge of the follower, when the customer s end of the second check may be torn off as before and the pad again returned to the other end of the casing. This operation may be performed as many times as necessary and each time the stub end of the check from which a customers end has been torn will be diverted by the diverting lip 20 of the follower from passage again beneath the follower, so that no matter how many times the pad is moved to the projected position there will always be presented an unused check strip so long as the pad contains any such checks, the spring 22 causing the follower to remain in engagement with the unused strips as the thickness of the pad decreases.

In order that the withdrawal of the pad into the casing may be automatic there is provided a long narrow connecting strip 24 preferably of metal and terminating at one end in a stabbing head 25 having sharp edges brought substantially to a point, and with spurs 26 pressed out of the metal of the strip adjacent the piercing head, these spurs being directed away from the piercing head, so that the latter may be introduced into the stapled end of the pad for an appropriate distance when the spurs 26 will catch into the material of the pad and prevent the withdrawal of the strip 24 under ordinary working conditions. The end of the strip 24 remote from the end 25 is formed with an eye or perforation 27 to which is attached a chain 28 or other flexible strand, and the end of this chain remote from the strip 24 is attached to a belt clip 29 which may be formed with an eye or perforation 30 for the attachment to the chain, while the end of the clip 29 remote from that to which the chain is attached is returned on itself as shown at 31 and may be made of material of sufficient elasticity to grasp a belt, indicated in dotted lines at 32, Fig. 1, with the finger 31 and the main body of the clip 29 grasping the belt with a force due to the elasticity of the finger 31, and this grasping action may be enhanced by a projection 33 on the side of the finger 31 facing the body of the clip 29, this projection being usually made by upsetting the metal of the finger. That portion of the body of the clip 29 which is faced by the finger 31 may be stamped out into another finger 34 having one end free and appropriately bent, so that in coaction with the corresponding face of the body portion 29 the finger 34 will grasp a pencil 35 indicated in full lines in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines in Fig. 6, while the space formed by the cutting out of this finger 34 may be so related to the projection 33 that the material of the belt will be partially forced into this cut out portion, thus more firmly uniting the clip to the belt.

Because of the chain 28, the casing will hang pendently from the belt of the waiter when the clip 29 is properly placed on such belt, and the weight of the casing is sufficient to cause the indrawing of the pad by the gravitating action of the casing when in the pendent position, the relation of the parts under these circumstances being indicated in Fig. 3. It, therefore, transpires that when a waiter has projected the pad and torn off the customers end of the slip, it is only necessary to allow the device to fall until arrested by the chain, for this will result in the relative indrawing of the pad into the casing, or the movement of the casing into the housing relation to the pad, thus protecting the pad to a large eX- tent from being soiled and preventing the stub ends of the used checks from assuming an unsightly frayed appearance, as would be the case were it not for the flanges 12.

What is claimed is 1. A holder for a pad of checks of a length and size to house the pad, said holder being open at one end for the projection of the pad of checks, and provided with a follower adjacent the open end, said follower having a check-stub diverting edge directed away from the open end of the holder.

2. A holder for a pad of checks of a size to house the pad, and open at one end for the projection therefrom of the correspond ing end of the pad of checks, said holder being provided with a follower adjacent the open end of the holder, said follower having a tearing edge directed toward the open end of the holder, and a stub-diverting edge directed away from the open end of the holder.

3. A holder for a pad of checks of a size to house the pad and open at one end for the projection therefrom of the "corresponding end of the pad of checks, said holder being provided with a follower adjacent the open end of the holder, said follower having a tearing edge directed toward the open end of the holder, and a stub diverting edge directed away from the open end of the holder, and the holder being provided with stub holding devices adapted to direct the stubs of delivered checks toward the main body of the pad.

4. A holder for a pad of checks of a size and shape to house the pad of checks, said holder having a back member with a longitudinal slot therein, a recess at one end,

and an end closing member at the otherv end, said holder also being provided with longitudinal side members outstanding from the back and with inturned flanges in spaced relation to the back member, the side members also being provided with portions extending away from the back member with slots traversing the extended portions and the side members adjacent thereto, a bridge piece connecting the extended portions of the side members and provided with a lip directed toward the back member, and a follower comprising a plate having a tearing edge and opposite the same a relatively sharp edge, and wit-h lugs adapted to the slots in the side members and extensions thereof, said follower plate being also provided with a stub diverting lip extending from the sharp edge of the follower, and elastic means for constraining the follower toward the back of the holder.

5. A holder for a pad of checks of a size and shape to house the pad of checks, said holder having a back member with a longitudinal slot therein, a recess at one end and an end closing member at the other end, said holder also being provided with longitudinal side members outstanding from the back and with inturned flanges in spaced relation to the back member, the side members also being provided with portions extending away from the back member with slots traversing the extended portions and the side members adjacent thereto, a bridge piece connecting the extended portions of the side members and provided with a lip directed toward the back member, and a follower comprising a plate having a tearing edge and opposite the same a relatively sharp edge and with lugs adapted to the slots in the side members and the extensions thereof, said follower plate being also provided with a stub diverting lip extending from the sharp edge of the follower, elastic means for constraining the follower toward the back of the holder, a strip provided with a stabbing end adapted to enter a pad of checks and with anchoring means at the stabbing end, and a flexible support for the strip having means for the attachment of said support to the clothing of the operator.

6. A check holder for a pad of checks comprising a housing for the pad in rela tively movable relation therewith, and a support for the pad independent of the housing, the said housing being free to gravitate into inclosing relation to the pad when the pad and housing are in pendent position.

7. A holder for check pads having sliding relation to a pad of checks for the projection of the pad to desired extents from the holder, a supporting member for the pad, and a stabbing terminal for the sup porting member adapted to enter and sustain the pad independent of direct connection with the holder.

8. A device for the reception of a pad of checks secured together at one end and free at the other end, said holder comprising a housing member for the pad, a follower in, said housing member having a tearing edge for the free ends of the checks and a stub diverting member, the holder also being pro vided with means for retaining the stub ends of used checks in close relation to the body of the pad, and a supporting member adapted to be attached to the clothing of an operator and provided with a connection adapted to be engaged by the end of the pad where the checks are connected together.

9. A holder for pads of checks comprising a housing member for a pad of checks, and a follower carried by the housing member in operative relation to a pad of checks therein, said follower having one edge formed into a tearing edge and an opposite edge formed into a stub diverting edge.

10., A holder fora pad of checks comprising a housing member into and out of which the pad of checks is movable in the direction of its length, and a follower carried by the housing in fixed relation to the direction of movement of the pad of checks with relation to the housing, said follower having means constraining it constantly toward the pad of checks and having one edge formed into a tearing edge and an opposite edge formed into a stub diverting edge.

11. In a holder for pads of checks wherein the holder and pad are relatively movable to project and retract a pad, means for theremoval of desired portions of the checks when the pad is projected, and means for retaining the stub ends of the checks in close relation to the body of the pad when the pad is retracted.

12. In a device for housing pads of checks, a follower under which the pad is reciprocable, said follower being provided with a stub diverting edge in substantially the plane of the pad engaging face of the follower.

13. A holder for pads of checks, said holder having means for the exposure of the ends of the checks at one end of the pad to desired extents for removal of such exposed ends from the remainder of the checks, means for the diversion of the stub ends of the checks whenever an unused check is presented for detachment, and means for retaining the stub ends of the checks in close relation to the body of the pad when retracted in the holder, said means comprising flanges on the holder, said flanges being directed one toward the other and provided with outturned ends.

14. A housing holder for pads of checks having the checks united together at one end, said holder having means for the exposure of the free ends of the checks to desired extents for the removal of such free ends from the remainder of the'oheoks, means for the diversion of the stub ends of the checks Whenever an unused check is presented for detachment, and means for retaining the stub ends of the checks in close relation to Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the the body of the pad when retracted into the 10 Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

